Quick-release athletic shorts

ABSTRACT

Quick-release shorts are manufactured using a fabric panel that is intended to be passed through a wearer&#39;s legs when the fabric panel is to be put on and taken off by the wearer. The fabric panel is cut in a pattern to form shorts when worn. The fabric panel has a front side and a backside when worm. The quick-release shorts utilize elastic Velcro bands sewn onto the waistband of the shorts and are used to secure the fabric panel in place when worm. The quick-release shorts allow for removing or putting on the shorts by separating the waistband at the side seams without the need of the wearer having to stoop over and pull the shorts over the shoes or feet while changing the shorts. The quick-release shorts are intended for use by athletes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing and more particularly to shorts suitable for use by athletes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Athletes, e.g., tri-athletes, change their shorts while transitioning from swimming to cycling to running. Such athletes generally have to stoop over to remove shoes or clumsily try to pull conventional shorts over the shoes, thereby risking injury by losing balance and falling, causing injury to the athlete.

What is need is a pair of quick release shorts that athletes can change while transitioning from swimming to cycling to running.

What is further needed is a pair of quick release shorts that can be used to transition between events without stooping over to remove shoes, or stooping over and pulling the shorts over shoes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Quick-release shorts are designed to allow athletes to quickly remove or put on the shorts without stooping over and pulling the shorts over the legs and feet When removing the shorts, the athlete disconnects the waistband of the shorts by separating Velcro® straps over the right and left side seams of the shorts. The shorts are then removed without having to stoop over and to remove shoes or trying to pull the shorts off over the shoes. The same is true when putting the shorts on. This solves the problem of athletes, e.g., tri-athletes, who change shorts while transitioning from swimming to cycling to running. With quick-release athletic shorts, the athletes can transition without stooping over to remove shoes or clumsily trying to pull conventional shorts over the shoes, thereby risking injury by losing balance and falling, causing injury to oneself

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRWINGS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings

FIG. 1 is an outside front view of the quick release shorts.

FIG. 2 is an outside side view of the right side of the quick release shorts.

FIG. 3 is an open right side view of the quick release shorts.

FIG. 4 is an open outside view of the quick release shorts.

FIG. 5 is an open inside view of the quick release shorts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an outside front view 10 of the quick release shorts 100 having an elastic waistband 12. The elastic waistband 12 be detached and reattached at left side 14 seam and right side 16 seam using elastic Velcro bands 24 as shown in FIG. 3 that are sewn onto the elastic waistband 12.

FIG. 2 is an outside side view 20 of the right side 16 of the quick release shorts 100, with a section of the elastic waistband 12 that includes elastic Velcro bands 24 to be described below. The elastic Velcro bands 24 provide an elastic Velcro connection 22 over the side seam of the right side 16 and the left side 14 of the quick release shorts 100. The length of the elastic Velcro connection 22 is by way of example 5 inches (19.7 mm). The elastic Velcro bands 24 (not shown in FIG. 2) provide closure of the left side 14 and the right side 16 of the quick release shorts 100 as will be described further below.

FIG. 3 is an open side view 30 of the right side 16 of the quick release shorts 100 showing the elastic Velcro bands 24 exposed. The elastic waistband 12 is detachable on each side, and reattached with the elastic Velcro bands 24 that are sewn onto the elastic waistband 12. It will be appreciated that the elastic Velcro bands 24 include elastic Velcro loop bands and elastic Velcro hook bands used to facilitate closure. The elastic Velcro loop bands and the elastic Velcro hook bands are referred to as an elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 and an elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the position of the elastic Velcro loop band and the elastic Velcro hook band used to facilitate closure can be interchanged. When the Velcro loop/hook band 32 is a loop, the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 is a hook, and vice-versa. The relative position of the elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 and the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 is as illustrated.

As described above, the elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 and the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 are sewn onto the elastic waistband 12 of the quick release shorts 100. Velstretch® brand strap manufactured by Velcro USA, Inc. of Manchester, N.H. is an example of the elastic Velcro bands 24.

FIG. 4 is an open outside view 40 showing the relative position of the elastic Velcro bands 24 described above as the elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 that is sewn to the back outside surface 42 of the elastic waistband 12 of the quick release shorts 100.

The front elastic Velcro bands 24 described above as the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 is sewn onto the front inside surface (not shown) of the elastic waistband 12 of the quick release shorts 100 as will be described further in FIG. 5. The elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 wraps around the back outside surface 42 of the elastic waistband 12 to connect with a corresponding elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 sewn to the backside of the elastic waistband 12. The elastic Velcro bands 24 described above as the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 is hidden from view in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an open inside view 50 showing the relative position of the elastic Velcro bands 24, described above as the elastic Velcro hook/loop band 34 that is sewn onto the front inside surface 52 of the elastic waistband 12 of the quick release shorts 100. The back elastic Velcro bands 24 described as the elastic Velcro loop/hook band 32 are hidden from view in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the length of the front side waistband 12 as illustrated is longer than the length of the backside elastic waistband 12. This enables the front side of the shorts to overlap the backside of the shorts when the shorts are worn.

The quick release athletic shorts, referred to above as quick release shorts 100, improve upon conventional athletic shorts by modifying the elasticized waistband of the shorts with the insertion of elastic Velcro bands 24 centering over the right side 16 and left side 14 seams of the shorts. The overlapping elastic Velcro bands 24 provide for a comfortable and snug fit without the need for a drawstring. Most importantly, the elastic Velcro bands 24 allow for the quick placement and removal of the quick release shorts 100 without pulling the quick release shorts 100 over bare feet or requiring the removal of shoes and stooping over.

Quick-release athletic shorts fabricated as described above will facilitate athletes and other individuals in putting on and removing the shorts without having to stoop over and pull the shorts over shoes or bare feet. This reduces the risk injury to the athlete while changing shorts by opening the shorts at the side seams allowing the removal of the shorts in an upright standing position.

The quick-release athletic shorts utilize elastic Velcro bands on the waistband of athletic shorts for efficiently removing or putting on the athletic shorts by separating the waistband at the side seams, opening the waistband for quick removal of the shorts without the athlete having to stoop over and pull the shorts over the shoes or feet while changing shorts during transitioning from one event to another.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. Quick-release shorts comprising: a fabric panel intended to be passed through an wearer's legs when said fabric panel is to be put on and taken off by the wearer, said fabric panel being cut in a pattern to form shorts when worn, said fabric panel having a front side and a back side, said front side including a front elastic waistband and said back side including a back elastic waistband, said front elastic waistband and said back elastic waistband including elastic Velcro bands that are used to secure said fabric panel in place when worn.
 2. The quick-release shorts according to claim 1, wherein said back elastic waistband is longer than said front elastic waistband.
 3. The quick-release shorts according to claim 1, wherein said elastic Velcro bands include elastic Velcro book/loop band and an elastic Velcro loop/hook band.
 4. The quick-release shorts according to claim 3 wherein said elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached to an inside surface of said front elastic waistband, and wherein said elastic Velcro loop/hook band is attached to an outside surface of said back elastic waistband.
 5. The quick-release shorts according to claim 4 wherein a first elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a first end of said front elastic waistband and a second elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a second end of said front elastic waistband, and wherein a first elastic Velcro loop/hook band is attached at a first end of said rear elastic waistband and a second elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a second end of said rear elastic waistband
 6. The quick-release shorts according to claim 4 wherein said elastic Velcro hook/loop band is sewn to said outside surface of said front elastic waistband, and wherein said elastic Velcro loop/hook band is sewn to said inside surface of said back elastic waistband.
 7. The quick-release shorts according to claim 1 wherein said back elastic waistband overlaps said front elastic waistband when worn.
 8. Quick-release athletic shorts comprising: a fabric panel intended to be passed between a wearer's legs when said fabric panel is put on and taken off by the wearer, said fabric panel being cut in a pattern to form athletic shorts when worn, wherein said fabric panel has a front side and a backside, said fabric panel cut in said pattern to enable said front side to overlap said backside when said fabric panel is worn, and further wherein said front side includes a front elastic waistband and said back side includes a back elastic waistband, said front elastic waistband and said back elastic waistband including elastic Velcro bands that are used to secure said fabric panel in place when worn.
 9. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 8, wherein said back elastic waistband is longer than said front elastic waistband.
 10. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 8, wherein said elastic Velcro bands include an elastic Velcro hook/loop band and an elastic Velcro loop/hook band.
 11. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 10 wherein said elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached to an inside surface of said front elastic waistband, and wherein said elastic Velcro loop/hook band is attached to an outside surface of said back elastic waistband.
 12. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 10 wherein a first elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a first end of said front elastic waistband and a second elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a second end of said front elastic waistband, and wherein a first elastic Velcro loop/hook band is attached at a first end of said rear elastic waistband and a second elastic Velcro hook/loop band is attached at a second end of said rear elastic waistband
 13. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 10 wherein said elastic Velcro hook/loop band is sewn to said outside surface of said front elastic waistband, and wherein said elastic Velcro loop/hook band is sewn to said inside surface of said back elastic waistband.
 14. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 8 wherein said back elastic waistband overlaps said front elastic waistband when worn.
 15. The quick-release athletic shorts according to claim 8 wherein said fabric panel when worn by the wearer as said athletic shorts facilitate the wearer in putting on and removing said athletic shorts without having to stoop over and pull said athletic shorts over shoes or bare feet. 